Donovan: Beckham is league's best

November 10, 20107:25PM EST

Simon Borg

NEW YORK – Ahead of Sunday’s Western Conference Championship against FC Dallas, Los Angeles Galaxy captain Landon Donovan has called David Beckham the best in MLS.

“What he can do technically on the soccer field, in my opinion, is better than anybody in this league and better than a lot of people around the world,” Donovan told a media teleconference call on Wednesday.

Donovan also hailed Beckham’s focus and dedication in trying to help the Galaxy win a league championship, which would be the Englishman’s first in MLS. With Beckham on the roster, the Galaxy missed out on the postseason in 2007 and 2008 before advancing to MLS Cup 2009 last year and losing to Real Salt Lake on penalty kicks.

After suffering an Achilles tear in March, Beckham has made a remarkable full recovery. Donovan said that Beckham has shown more energy and effort than any player in the MLS Cup Playoffs even though the Englishman only returned in September.

The US national team’s all-time leading scorer also said that Beckham’s hunger to win may be fueled by the fact that he is about to enter the final year of his contract with the LA Galaxy.

“Who knows what our team looks like next year with the Expansion Draft and Re-Entry Draft,” Donovan said. “We have a very good chance to win. This might be one of the last two years that David has if he decides not to play again after next year.

“He understands how crucial that is and if I were him I would want to make the most of it.”

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